Sheet metal gutter making machine



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SHEET METAL GUTTER MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. so,- 195s Y 1o sheets-sheet 1o E E Q, Q PQ n Q United States Patent SHEET METAL GUTTER MAKING MACHINE Ragnar Gudmestad, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Artus Engineering Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 30, 1953, Serial No. 334,193

9 Claims. (Cl. 153-54) 'haps the most extensively used of these two types of eaves "w troughs is the semi-circular gutter having substantially semi-cylindrical transverse cross-section and a rolled reinforcing bead extending along the free edge thereof, While the other type is known as the box gutter having an approximately semi-rectangular transverse cross-section and some kind of reinforcement extending along its free edge. While the semi-circular gutter sections may be readily produced at relatively low cost, they are rather easily deformed and marred by ladders and other objects applied to their free outer edges, and they also present -a rather unaesthetic appearance, thus limiting their use to comparatively cheaper dwellings, factories, and the like. The box type gutter while being far stronger and more attractive than the semi-circular type, has also heretofore been more difiicult and costly to fabricate, thus more or less limiting their use to more expensive buildings of various types.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for automatically, accurately, and economically fabricating successive lengths of box section eaves troughs in order to make this type of drainage gutter available in all kinds of housing projects.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for manufacturing sheet metal box type drainage gutters from relatively thin stock, but having exceptionally strong transverse cross-section and highly aesthetic appearance.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved power driven unit for rapidly producing successive precisely similar elongated box gutter sections from fiat sheets of metal and with minimum attention on the part of the operator, and which may be conveniently assembled and readily cleaned.

Still another important object of my present invention is to provide an improved sheet metal eaves trough forming machine which can be readily adjusted to produce successive gutter sections of various sizes and shapes and with utmost precision.

An additional important object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanical assemblage for effectively and automatically fabricating sheet metal box gutters having their outer walls provided with ogee curvature and with a thoroughly reinforced free upper edge so as to present a neat and attractive appearance while also possessing great strength.

These and other morespecific objects and advantages ofthe present invention will be apparent from the following description from which it will be noted that the gist "ice of my improvement is the provision of a power driven unit wherein the successive sheet metal blanks are rapidly and automatically converted into box type gutter sections while advancing longitudinally through a succession of stages each having therein specially shaped and accurately adjustable forming rolls or rollers adapted to effectively perform its intended function and to finally deliver the sections from the unit without endangering the operator or attendant.

A clear conception of the numerous improved features constituting the invention, and of the construction and operation of a typical commercial machine for making sheet metal box gutters, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specication wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a relatively diagrammatic top view of a commercial sheet `metal box gutter fabricating machine for automatically converting successive flat elongated metal blanks into identical eaves trough sections;

Fig. 2 is a similarly diagrammatic side elevation of the box gutter fabricating unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the feed rollers and of the first set of forming rolls together with the guides connecting the feeding stage with the first forming stage;

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary side view of the feeding and forming assemblage of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of the first and second set of forming rolls and of the guide mechanism connecting the first and second forming stages;

Fig. 6 is a likewise enlarged fragmentary side view of the roll and guide assembly of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged top view of the second and third set of forming rolls and the intervening guide mechanism between the second and third forming stages;

Fig. 8 i-s a similarly enlarged fragmentary side View of the roll and guide assemblage of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the first forming stage, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a likewise enlarged transverse vertical section through the second forming stage, taken along the line 10--10 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1l is a similarly enlarged transverse vertical section through the third forming stage, taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a likewise enlarged transverse vertical section through the fourth forming stage of the unit, taken along the ilne 12-12 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is a further enlarged central vertical section through a set of special cooperating forming rollers disposed at the fourth forming ozne and cooperating with the forming rolls as shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the fifth forming stage of the machine, taken along the line-14-14 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a similarly enlarged transverse vertical section through the sixth and final forming stage of the mechanism, taken along the line 15--15 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 16 is a further enlarged central vertical section through another set of special cooperating rollers disposed at the fifth and sixth forming zones and cooperating with the rolls therein as shown in Figs. 14 and 15;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged top view of the three sets of gutter shaping rollers located between the third and fourth forming stages;

Fig. 18 is a similarly enlarged side view of the roller assembly shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a likewise enlarged end view of the roller assemblage of Figs. 17 and 18;

Fig. 20 is a further enlarged transverse central section through a special shaping roller assemblage cooperable. with the advancing blanks between stages;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged top view ofthe four sets of gutter shaping rollers disposed between the fourth and fifth forming stages;

Fig. 22 is a similarly enlarged side View of the roller assembly shown in Fig. 2l;

Fig. 23 is a likewise enlarged transverse section through a set of the edge reinforcement forming rollers of Figs. 2l and 22, the section having been takeny along the line 23 23 of Fig. 2l;

Fig. 24 is a similarly enlarged transverse section through another set of the reinforcing flange forming rollers taken along the line 24-24 of Fig. 2l;

Fig. 25 is an enlarged top View of the final gutter shaping and edge flange shaping rollers located between the fifth and sixth forming stages;

Fig. 26 is a similarly enlarged side view of the roller assemblage shown in Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a likewise enlarged transverse section through one set of the rollers shown in Figs. 25 and 26, taken along the line 27-27 of Fig. 25; and

Fig. 28 is a further enlarged transverse section through a finished box gutter produced by the machine.

While the invention has been illustrated and described herein as being advantageously applicable to a machine for producing box gutters having a front wall provided with ogee curvature, it is not the intent to unnecessarily limit the improvements to such a unit; and it is also contemplated that specific descriptive terms be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawings, the typical sheet metal gutter making machine shown therein, comprises in general an elongated rigid composite main frame 30 providing a support for a succession of feeding, advancing, guiding, and forming elements some of which are adapted to be positively driven by an electric motor 31 suspended from the frame 3@ and cooperating with the driven elements through speed reducing gearing 32 and chain drives 33, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and `2. The unit when operating is adapted to receive successive elongated fiat metal blanks at a feeding zone 34 located near one end of the frame 30, and to automatically advance the sarne through a succession of six gutter forming and discharge stages 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and past sets of i11- tervening guides and shaping rollers, all of which are cooperable and relatively adjustable so as to convert the sheet metal blanks into accurately formed gutter sections of identical cross-sectional shape such as shown in Fig. 28.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the initial blank feeding Zone 34 is provided with a set of blank receiving rollers 42 of relatively small diameter followed by a set of positively driven blank advancing rollers 43 of considerably larger diameter. The rollers 42, 43 of both of these sets are formed of relatively laterally adjustable sections mounted upon their respective supporting shafts 44, 45 the upper of which are vertically movable, and both sets have their peripheries formed to grip and to initially indent the sheet metal blanks 46 advancing therebetween along several medial score lines which will ultimately constitute sharp corners in the final gutters. These rollers 42, 43 are also formed to initially bend the extreme longitudinal opposite edges 47, 4S of the blanks 46 in opposite directions away from the plane of each fiat blank as illustrated in Fig. 9. After leaving the feeding zone 34, the relatively flat but slightly distorted and longitudinally scored blanks 46 are rapidly advanced by the rollers 43 between substantially parallel opposed normally fixed side guide bars 49 and between superimposed guide plates 5l), l toward the first gutter forming station 35. The guide bars 49 are detachably secured to struts 52 carried by the main frame 3), while the upper guide plate 5t) is vertically adjustably suspended by means of screws 53 from transverse bars and brackets 54 also mounted upon the frame 3f), so that the advancing blanks 46 may be accurately guided toward the station 35.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9, the first gutter forming station 35 contains a set of cooperating upper and lower forming rolls 56, 57 mounted upon shafts 58, 59 respectively which are interconnected by gearing 60 and are positively driven by the motor 31 through one of the chain drives 33. The shafts 58, 59 are journalled in the main frame 30, but the bearings 6l of the upper shaft 58 are vertically slidably mounted upon the frame 30 and are resiliently urged toward the fixed bearings of the lower shaft by means of compression springs 62. The peripheries of the coacting rolls 56, 57 are formed to initially bend the successive blanks 46 into five distinct adjoining gutter sections 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, of which the section 63 will ultimately constitute the rear fiat wall, the section 64 will form the flat gutter bottom, the section 65 will be a lower wall disposed perpendicular to the bottom 64, the section 66 will constitute the ogee front of the gutter, and the section 67 will be distorted into a box brim and ange, all as depicted in Fig. 28. Upon leaving the first forming station 35 the further distorted blanks 46 are rapidly advanced by the forming rolls 56, 57 between relatively tapering normally fixed opposed side guide bars 63 and with their medial bottom sections 64 passing between superimposed guide plates 69, 70 toward the second forming station 36; and the guide bars 68 are detachably supported from the main frame 30 by struts 71 while the upper plate 69 is adjustably suspended from transverse bars and brackets 72 by means of adjusting screws 73, see Figs. 5 and 6.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and l0, the second gutter forming station 36 embodies another set of cooperating upper and lower forming rolls 75, 76 which are mounted upon shafts 77, 78 respectively also drivingly interconnected by gearing 60 and positively driven by the motor 3l through one of the chain drives 33. The shafts 77, 78 are likewise journalled for rotation in the main frame 30 and the bearings 79 of the upper shaft 77 are vertically slidably mounted upon the frame 30 and are urged toward the fixed bearings of the lower shaft by compression springs 62. The peripheries of the coasting forming rolls 75, 76 are formed as shown in Fig. l0 to further `distort the advancing blanks 46 into U-shaped crosssection, and upon leaving these rolls 75, 76 the sheet metal blanks are again rapidly advanced between relatively inclined opposite side guide bars 80 with their medial bottoms 64 travelling between superimposed guide plates 3l, 32. The guidev bars 80 are detachably and angularly adjustably secured to struts 33` mounted upon the main frame 30, while the upper guide plate Sil is adjustably suspended from fixed transverse bars and brackets S4 by means of screws 85, and the lower plate 82 is fixedly mounted, see Figs. 7 and 8.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and ll, the third gutter forming station 37 comprises an additional set of cooperating upper and lower forming rolls 87, 8S mounted upon shafts 89, 9i) respectively drivingly interconnected by gearing 6) and adapted to be positively rotated by the motor 31 through one of the chain drives 33. The shafts 89, 9d are also journalled for rotation in the main frame 30 and the bearings 9i. of the upper shaft 39 are vertically movably mounted upon the main frame and are urged downwardly toward the fixed bearings of the lower shaft 90, by compression springs 62. The peripheries of the forming rolls S7, 88 are shaped as illustrated in Fig. ll so as to still further distort the advancing successive sheet metal blanks 46 into box section; and a small roller 92 which is rotatable about an upright shaft 33 carried by a vertically adjustable angle bracket 94 secured to the main frame 30, is cooperable with the flange sections 67 of the blanks 46 to bend the same inwardly adjacent to and toward the rolls 87, 88.

Upon leaving the station 37, the blanks 46 are advanced longitudinally between three successive sets of special flange forming rollers such as shown in Figs. l7 to 20 inclusive, and each of these sets comprises a lower gutter supporting roller 96 rotatably -supported upon a horizontal shaft 97 journalled in bearings 98 carried by the main frame 30, a pair of peripherally coacting rollers 99, 100 rotatable about vertical parallel axes and being supported by spaced plates 161, 102 also carried by the main frame, and a pair of oppositely inclined bevel rolls 103, 164 journalled on a bracket 105 suspended from the upper plate 161. The rollers 96 are formed to coact with the bottoms 64 and lower upright front walls 65, and with the lower portions of the ogee walls 66 of the advancing blanks 46, while each roller 99 has an upper disk 166 provided with a chamfer cooperable with the edge portions 47 of the blanks 46 and with top flanges 107 on the adjacent rollers 100 to partially bend these portions 47 inwardly and downwardly. The lower parts of the rollers 99, 100 are cooperable with the upper front flange sections 67 and with the upper ogee wall portions 66 of the successive blanks 46, and the rollers 99 are mounted upon normally fixed shafts 108, while the rollers 108 are journalled on shafts 109 which are urged toward the adjacent rollers 99 by springs 110.

As shown in Figs. l2 and 13, the fourth gutter forming station 36 comprises another set of peripherally cooperating upper and lower rolls 112, 113 mounted upon horizontal shafts 114, 115 respectively, which are drivingly 'i interconnected by gearing 60 and are adapted to be positively driven by the electric motor 31 through one of the chain drives 33. The shafts 114, 115 are journalled in bearings carried by the main frame 30, and the bearings 116 of the upper shaft 115 are vertically movable within the main frame and are urged downwardly by springs 62. The peripheries of the rolls 112, 113 are shaped as in Fig. l2, so as to further gradually distort the successive blanks 46 into box section shape; and a set of small rollers 117, 113 which are mounted upon parallel vertical shafts 119, 120 respectively, is cooperable with the upper front edges 47 of the advancing blanks 46 to further distort and bend these edge portions upon the adjacent flange forming portions 67. The roller 117 is vertically adjustably supported by a bracket 121 secured to the main frame 30, while the roller 118 is carried by another bracket 122 also secured to the frame 30 adjacent to one of the upper shaft bearings 116.

Upon leaving the gutter forming station 38, the successive sheet metal blanks 46 are advanced longitudinally between four sets of special box flange forming rollers which are constructed to gradually distort the upper flange portions 67 into C-shape. These rollers are shown in Figs. 21 to 24 inclusive, and the first three sets each comprises a lower gutter supporting roller 96 mounted upon a shaft 97 journalled in bearings 98' carried by the main frame 30, a pair of peripherally coacting rollers 124, 125 rotatable about parallel upright shafts 126, 127 respectively which are supported by spaced plates 125, 129 also carried by the main frame 30, and a set of oppositely inclined bevel rolls 103', 104 journalled upon a bracket 105 suspended from the upper plate 128. The rollers 124 are all alike, but the rollers 125 have top flanges 130 of different tapered shapes adapted to gradually bend the edge portions 67 into box shape', and the fourth set of these forming rollers comprises a gutter supporting roller 96', a vertical roller 131 mounted upon an upright shaft 132 supported by the plates 128, 129, an upper roller 133 rotatable about a horizontal shaft 134 and a cooperating lower smaller roller 135 rotatable upon a shaft 136 both carried by the upper plate 128, and a pair of oppositely inclined bevel rolls 103', 104 journalled on a bracket 185 suspended from the top plate 128, see Figs. 23 and 24. These rolls and rollers are automaticallycooperable with the gutter blanks 46 to form the reinforcing box flanges along the upper outer edge portions by distorting the flange portions 67 into C-shape as indicated in dotand-dasn lines.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 16, thefifth gutter forming station 39 include s an additional set ofrperipherallycoacting upper and lower rolls 138, 139 respectively which Cit are mounted upon shafts 140, 141 adapted to be positively rotated by the motor 31 through gearing 60 and another of the chain drives 33. These shafts 140, 141 are journalled in bearings mounted upon the main frame 30, and the upper shaft bearings 142 are vertically slidable upon the frame 30 and are urged downwardly by compression springs 62. The peripheries of the rolls 140, 141 are formed as in Fig. 14, to finally shape the gutter walls 63, 65, 66 and the bottom 64 of the successive blanks 46; and another set of relatively small rollers 143, 144 which are mounted upon parallel upright shafts 145, 146 respectively, is cooperable with the front walls of the C- shaped upper flanges which have been formed from the sheet metal blank portions 67, so as to straighten these ange walls. The roller shaft is mounted upon a bracket 147 vertically adjustably secured tothe main frame 36, and the roller shaft 146 is supported by another bracket 148 attached to the frame 30 near one of the upper bearings 142.

Upon leaving the gutter forming station 39, the successive sheet metal trough sections advance longitudinally between several sets of special rollers which finally press the upper outer edge portion 47 of each blank 46 into snug coaction with the adjacent inwardly directed part of the ange 67. These rollers are shown in detail in Figs. 25 to 27 inclusive, and comprise a single central lower gutter supporting roller 96 mounted upon a horizontal shaft 97 journalled in bearings 98 carried by the main frame 30, a pair of spaced similar rollers 150, 151 mounted upon upright shafts 152, 153 carried by upper and lower plates 154, 155 secured to the main frame 30, a cylindrical roller 156 journalled upon the upper plate 154 adjacent to the periphery of each roller 150, 151 and being rotatable about horizontal axes, and a composite edge pressing roll 157 rotatable about a vertical shaft 158 adjustably mounted on the upper plate 154 and coacting with an anvil roll 159 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 160 also secured to the plate 154. The rollers 150, 151, 156 merely serve to guide the successive gutter sections while they advance longitudinally, but the rolls 157, 159 cooperate with the edges 47 and with the inwardly extending portion sof the gutter flanges 67, to finally bend the edges 47 toward these flange portions and to thereby complete the gutters as shown in Fig. 28. In order to insure proper functioning of the rolls 157, 159, the shaft 160 of the anvil roll 159 is lixedly secured to the plate 154, and the supporting shaft 158 of the composite roll 157 is laterally adjustable by means of a manually operable screw 161.

As shown in Fig. l5, the sixth station 40 is merely a discharge zone for the successive completed gutters, and comprises a set of cooperating upper and lower rolls 163, 164 mounted upon horizontal shafts 165, 166 respectively and are positively rotated by the motor 31 through gearing 60 and a chain drive 33. The shafts 165, 166 are journalled in bearings mounted upon the main frame 30, and the upper shaft bearings 167 are vertically movable and are urged downwardly by compression springs 62. The peripheries of the rolls 163, 164 are shaped to lit the contours of the completed gutters shown in Fig. 28, and a set of small rollers 143, 144 such as shown in Fig. 16 is also cooperable with the discharge rolls 163, 164 as illustrated in Fig. 15. The chain drive 33 associated with one end of the lower shaft 166 as shown in Fig. 15 may be utilized to drive a subsequent conveyor for the completed gutter sections, but may be omitted as in Fig. 1.

When the improved automatic gutter producing unit has been properly assembled as above described, and the various parts have been properly adjusted to produce accurate performance, the motor 31 may be operated to positively rotate feed rollers 42, 43, the forming rolls at the stations 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and the discharge rolls at the station 40, through the chain drives 33 and gearing 60. Proper adjustment of the Various guide bars `49, 68, 80, upper guide plates 50, 63, 81, and of the forming and andasse guiding rolls and rollers is essential in order to insure operation of the machine with utmost precision and with minimum power consumption, and after such adjustment has been eifected, the successive flat elongated sheet metal blanks 46 may be fed longitudinally through the feeding zone and will be automatically and gradually but rapidly transformed into gutters having transverse cross-section such as shown in Fig. 28 throughout their entire lengths. During advancement of the sheet metal blanks 46 through the feeding zone and the successive stations, the positively driven rolls at the stations 35, 36, 37, 33, 3%, dt) will advance these blanks and the compression springs 62 should be adjusted to insure proper cooperation between the forming rolls at the successive stations while still permitting separation of these rolls under abnormal conditions of operation. The guiding assemblages which are located between the feed zone and the first, second and third forming stations, merely serve to guide the stock longitudinally; but the rollers and auxiliary rolls which are disposed between the forming stations beyond the station 37 function to accurately form the T-shaped reinforcing iianges 67 and to insure rapid delivery of the product from the unit.

During advancement of the blanks in through the machine, the dat bottom portions 6d rest upon the lower guide plates 5l, 7i', 82 and travel beneath the upper guide plates 5d, 69, 3l until they reach the forming station 37. After they pass the station 37 the partially formed gutters rest upon the horizontal guide rollers M. ln the finished gutters, the rear walls 63 are disposed approximately perpendicular to the dat bottom 64, and the lower portion 55 of the front wall is likewise disposed, but the portion d6 of the bla k 46 is attractively shaped to ogee curvature while the upper portion 67 is bent into a (l2-shaped iiange the free edge d? of which is reversely bent, thus providing an exceedingly strong and durable but aesthetic box gutter assemblage. After the mechanism has been properly adjusted, the successive blanks 46 may be fed in rapid succession to the machine whereupon the mechanism functions automatically to convert them into identical successive gutters, and the invention has gone into highly satisfactory and successful commercial use. The unit may also be utilized to produce gutters of various sizes and of varying cross-sections by utilizing forming rolls of dilerent Shapes.

lt should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and operation of the gutter making machine herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

l claim:

l. ln a machine for producing gutters from iiat elongated sheet metal blanks, several spaced sets of trough forming rolls each set having coacting peripheries shaped to progressively convert flat blanks passing therebetween into lJ-snaped cross-section, means for positively rotating said rolls to advance the b its longitudinally past the successive sets, stationary guiding means coacting with a lower and an upper medial longitudinal portion of each blank for conducting the latter from the irst to the second of said roll sets, guiding and forming means cooperating with the subsequent roll sets and coacting with said lower medial portion of the blank and with one side wall thereof for conducting the blank longitudinally from said second roll set to the final roll set, and means for shaping said side wall and bending a longitudinal edge thereof upon itself to produce a reinforcing iiange along the free edge of the gutter.

2. in a machine for producing box type gutters from flat elongated sheet metal blanks, several spaced pairs of trough forming rolls each pair having coacting periphcries shaped to progressively convert dat blanks passing therebetween into U-shaped transverse cross-section,

means for positively rotating each pair of said rolls to advance the blanks longitudinally past the successive pairs, stationary elongated guides coacting with a lower and an upper medial longitudinal portion of each blank for conducting the same from the iirst to the second and from said second to the third pair of said rolls, and rotary guiding and gutter forming means cooperating with the subsequent pairs of forming rolls and coacting with said lower medial portion of the blank and with one side wall thereof for longitudinally guiding the blank from said third pair of rolls, and means for simultaneously shaping said side wall and bending of a C-shaped flange along its free edge.

3. ln a machine for producing gutters from dat elongated sheet metal blanks, several spaced sets of trough forming rolls each set having coacting peripheries shaped to progressively convert liat blanks passing therebetween into U-shaped cross-section, means for positively rotating all of said rolls to advance the blanks longitudinally past the successive sets, stationary elongated guides coacting with an upper medial longitudinal portion of each blank for conducting the latter from the iirst to the second and from said second to a third set of said forming rolls, and guiding rollers coacting with the lower medial portion of the blank beyond said third roll set for conducting the blank longitudinally from said third to a final set of said forming rolls, one of said roll sets being formed to convert a side wall of the U-shaped blank into ogee curvature while advancing over said guiding rollers.

4. in a machine for producing gutters from liat elongated sheet metal blanks, several spaced pairs of trough forming rolls each pair having coacting peripheries shaped to progressively convert at blanks passing therebetween into U-shaped cross-section with a llat rear wall and a front wall of ogee curvature, means for positively rotating said rolls to advance the blanks longitudinally past the successive pairs of rolls, stationary guiding means coacting with a medial longitudinal portion of each blank for conducting the latter from the rst to the second pair of said rolls, guiding and forming means cooperating with subsequent pairs of said forming rolls and coacting with said medial portion of the blank and with the front wall thereof beyond said second pair of forming rolls for conducting the blank longitudinally from said second to a final pair or said rolls, and means cooperating with a pair of said rolls for completing a reinforcing dange along its free front edge.

5. ln a machine for producing gutters from dat elongated sheet metal blanks, several spaced pairs of trough forming rolls each pair having coacting periph/cries shaped to progressively convert flat blanks passing therebetween into Ushaped transverse cross-section having a iiat bottom and rear wall and a front wall of ogee contour, means for positively rotating said rolls to advance the blanks longitudinally past the successive pairs, stationary guide plates coacting with said fiat bottom of each blank for conducting the same from the lirst to the second pair of said rolls, rotary guiding and gutter forming means cooperating with subsequent pairs of said forming rolls and coacting with said flat bottom and with said front wall `of the blank beyond said second pair of forming rolls for longitudinally guiding the same from said second to final rolls, and means cooperating with said linal rolls for simultaneously shaping said front wall and completing a C-shaped liange along its free edge.

6. In a machine for producing gutters from liat elongated sheet metal blanks, several spaced pairs of trough forming rolls each set having coacting peripheries shaped Ito progressively convert iiat blanks passing therebetween into U-shaped cross-section, means for positively rotating said rolls to advance the blanks longitudinally past the successive pairs and through the spaces therebetween, lower `and upper guide plates enacting with a medial longitudinal portion of each blank for conductlng the Iblank through the space between the first and second pair of said rolls, means for `relatively 4adjusting said plates, 'idler rollers coacting with said lower medial portion of the blank and with one side wall thereof and cooperating with subsequent pairs of said forming rolls |to conduct the blank longitudinally from said second to a final pair of said rolls, and means cooperating with `said final rolls for shaping s-aid side wall and completing a C-shaped reinforcing tlange along its free edge.

7. In a machine for producing gutters from llat elongated sheet metal blank-s, several spaced pairs of trough forming -rolls each pair having coacting peripheries shaped :to progressively convert flat blanks passing therebetween into U-shaped transverse cross-section, means for positively rotating said rolls to ladvance the blanks longitudinally past the successive pairs and through lthe intervening spaces, relatively adjustable guide plates coaicting with a lower andan upper medial longitudinal portion of Ieach blank for conducing the same from the first to the second pair of said rolls, rotary guiding rollers coacting with said lower medial portion of the blank between subsequent pairs of said forming rolls for longitudinally guiding the same while advancing toward -a nal pair of said rolls, and idler rollers cooperating with said linal rolls to produce a C-sh-aped flange along the free edge of each blank while travelling over said guiding rollers.

8. In a machine for producing gutters from at elongated sheet metal blanks, several spaced pairs of trough forming rolls each set having oo-acting peripheries shaped to progressively convert flat blanks passing therebetween into U-shaped cross-section, means for positively rotating said rolls to advance'the blanks longitudinally through the spaces between successive pairs, guide plates cooperable with a lower .and an upper medial longitudinal portion of each blank for conducting the latter from the rst to the second and from said second to a third pair of said rolls, a series of parallel idler rollers eoacting with said lower media-l portion of the blank for conducting the latter longitudinally from ysaid third toward a final pair of said forming rolls, and a set of peripherally coacting relatively adjust-able rolls for forming an overlapped reinforcing flange along the free edge of thefront wall of the trough shaped blank.

9. In 'a machine for produc-ing gutters from flat elongated sheet metal blanks, several spaced pairs of trough forming rolls each pair having coacting peripheries shaped to progressively convert at blanks passing therebetween into U-shaped transverse cross-section with a flat bottom and rear wall and a front wall of ogee contour, means for positively rotating said rolls to ad- Vance the blanks longitudinally past the successive pairs, and rotary guiding and gutter forming means coacting with the bottom and front wa-ll lof the U-shaped blank between successive sets of the trough forming rolls for longitudinally guiding the blank between said rolls, and means for finally bending .an edge of the blank inwardly to produce a C-shaped flange along the free edge of the gutter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 759,480 Shiey May 10, 1904 803,859 Shiliey Nov. Y7, 1905 819,143 Koenig May l, 1906 935,906 Grant Oct. 5, 1909 1,117,177 Flagge NOV. 17, 1914 1,155,522 Gjobring -n n Oct. 5, 1915 1,730,361 Fulenwider Oct. 8, 1929 2,493,415 Navin Jan. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 31,129 Denmark Ian. 22, 1923 280,248 Switzerland Dec. l, 1952 

